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Friday, 4 November 2016

Felipe VI's new chapter

King Felipe VI of Spain at the swearing in of his country's new cabinet

(photo casareal Twitter)

Just days after watching his country's Prime Minister sworn in, King Felipe VI of Spain has taken part in a ceremony in which the new cabinet took their oaths. At the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Felipe watched as ministers made their pledges as the difficult task of governing began following ten months of deadlock after two sets of inconclusive elections.

The political stalemate has seen, at times, a curtailed royal agenda for King Felipe and his family. The newest monarch in Europe watched on as the new cabinet walked up, one by one, to take their oaths in front of a table containing a copy of Spain's constitution, a Bible and a crucifix.

There are already signs that the impact the political stalemate had on the royal agenda is beginning to fall away although the engagement that Felipe went to after seeing his country's cabinet sworn in was always going to happen. The King of Spain oversaw commemorations for the country's Veterans' Day, held every year to honour those who have served in the Spanish Armed Forces and Civil Guard.

King Felipe of Spain at his country's Veteran's Day, November 4th 2016

(photo casareal Twitter)

Felipe headed to A Coruna in Galicia for the ceremony which took place at the Ferrol Arsenal, begun during the reign of Felipe V of Spain.

Spain's current King Felipe reviewed companies of veterans and watched a parade. The ceremony also included the presentation of medals to veterans and a solemn moment of remembrance for all those who have lost their lives while serving their country.

The start of a new chapter? King Felipe of Spain on the day his country's cabinet was sworn in, ending months of political deadlock

(photo casareal Twitter)

It was a traditional end to a big day for Felipe who has faced difficult situations in the past year. There are more problems to come as the end of the trial of his sister, the Infanta Cristina, and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, looms. But with the end of the political deadlock which had dominated Spain for the past ten months, the King of Spain enters a new chapter in his reign.